7 Reasons Why Swimmers Date Swimmers

Our very own Funkita F-Teamers fess up on their swimcest and the upside of dating other swimmers

Swimcest / 'swim-cest / verb: when a swimmer forms a romantic relationship with another swimmer, usually from the same swim team.

We've all seen it, we've probably all done it but why do swimmers always seem to be in relationships with other swimmers? Whether it's a team mate or rival team, chlorine is cupid's bow and arrow and we asked some F-Team culprits to help us identify 7 reasons why swimmers keep it in the family.

1. Convenience

When you're on the same team, there's no getting around the fact that it's a pleasant convenience to have your lane lover to admire when they are wet and wearing next to nothing for 20 hours a week. How many other couples can claim that amount of lustful indulgence with their partner?

2. Pool water perfume

After years bathing in chlorine, there's little wonder this chemical concoction gets the heart pumping when two swimmers get together. To a non-swimmer you smell like a hospital, but to your swimming sweetheart your scent is arousing.

Rami Dvariskyte looking gorgeous in her Sweet Smoothie Two Piece dates fellow Funky Trunks F-Teamer Omar Pinzon

3. Bedtime

There's no arguing over bedtime or calculating the time a late night movie is going to finish when your partner is also likely to be asleep before the 9pm movie starts. When you have the afternoon sessions off, there's no questioning the dinner date starting are 6pm, which leads us to point 4.

4. Food

There is no need to order the salad when you date your fly king or queen. They will also be eating 6 meals of carbs and protein a day so forget about fine dining and bring on the burgers for your romantic dinner date.

5. Friday night rules

You both agree that Friday night is a school night and going out on the town is out of the question when the toughest session of the week is waiting for you the next morning.

6. Naps

There's no need to feel guilty when you take that day time nap, when a non-swimming partner would be at work in the real world. Spooning becomes an essential day time recovery session when you date a swimmer.

7. Romantic retreats

Training camps and competitions become romantic getaways when your swim valentine is making the same trip. When you don't get any time off out of the pool, you make the best of the situation. What's more romantic than a sunset Powerade before finals?

Finding someone else that eats two breakfasts, wakes at 4am, and is constantly wet or in a state of drying can make swimcest a very attractive option, especially if the option is very attractive.

F-Teamer Taylor McKeown wears her Jungle Boogie on pool deck with her Kiwi boyfriend Julian

Our very own Taylor McKeown comes clean on her swimcest with New Zealand breaststroker Julian Layton. 21-year-old Julian had his best season since moving to Australia having won the NZ Open Nationals in the 200m breaststroke.

"When I was younger I never would have imagined myself dating and living with another swimmer. Most people try not to mix their work and relationships, but here I am, doing just that. It seems like a common trend now, that swimmers end up dating other swimmers. So I would like to let the world know why," says Taylor.

I met Julian through swimming when he came to live and train in Australia, from New Zealand in 2012. We hit it off from the beginning and have now happily been together for two and a half years.

Julian and I wake up at the same time every morning, which is convenient and saves a grumpy boyfriend being woken up at the crack of dawn. There are a lot of boys out there who love their sleep ins!

Although he almost always beats me, on the odd occasion I beat him, I claim bragging rights for a week! It's so great! Also, all of this time spent in pool can make swimmers stink like chlorine, but he doesn't even notice it, because he stinks of chlorine more than I do!

Next year we both aim to make the Olympics. However, he will be swimming for New Zealand and I'll be swimming for Australia. We both know what we have to do to get there, so from now on our lives are goal focused. Having my partner by my side every step of the way until I dive in for my Australian national qualifying final, will be one of the best memories about my Olympics journey."

Decked out in their Funky Trunks and Funkitas Omar Pinzon and Rami Dvariskyte enjoy their break after Worlds

Taylor and Julian aren't the only couple guilty of swimcest. F-Teamers Omar Pinzon and Raminta Dvariskyte are officially a 'Funky' couple after pool side chats led to romance. The pair of Olympians - Omar represented Colombia in 2004 and 2008, Raminta her native Lithuania in 2008 - now live and train together despite some first date differences. Omar advocates swimcest for general convenience and well-being.

"There are definitely perks. She understands my life and my routine better than anyone. She helps me and reminds me to stay on the right path to my goals. I do the same for her," Omar says.